The microbiological causes of chronic osteomyelitis at the University Teaching Hospital,Lusaka

BACKGROUND: Chronic osteomyelitis is a debilitating infection of bone and its bone marrow, presenting with bone pain and an active sinus that discharges pus. It is a persistent and recurrent condition that results from infection of bone and its marrow by various microorganisms. Worldwide, staphylococcus aureus is the commonest causative organism. This study was done because the microbiological profile of causative organisms at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka was unknown.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving the collection of deep tissue cultures following sequestrectomy and subjecting them to microscopy, culture and sensitivity examination so as to determine the causative organisms and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern.
RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was the most common (35%) isolated microorganism and the cultured organisms showed highest sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Chronic osteomyelitis was common in children (median age 7.5 years) and in patients of low socioeconomic status.
CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest cause of chronic osteomyelitis at the University Teaching Hospital.